PUPILS at two schools have surged ahead in the race to complete their reading passports in order to stake their claim to a prize.

The first 50 children to complete the tasks and hand in their completed passport, win a £10 WH Smith gift voucher as well as getting their name printed in News Shopper.

Schoolchildren from Timbercroft Primary School, in Timbercroft Lane, Plumstead, and Gordon Primary School, in Earlshall Road, Eltham, are leading the way, with nine pupils from each school having completed the scheme by January 22.

First to finish the passport was nine-year-old Lauren Eastwood from Gordon Primary School.

Lauren's teacher Jackie Davies said: "She enjoyed the work we have been doing recently in class which has been based on newspaper reports. Lauren has worked with real enthusiasm on her reading passport."

Timbercroft Primary School headteacher Jane Stephenson said: "The scheme has really motivated many of our children."

l The first 18 children to have completed their reading passports are:

From Gordon Primary School Lauren Eastwood, nine, Harry Terrett, six, Grace King, six, Kilian Ciocanel, six, Chloe Smeeth, six, Naomie Morris, six, Tilly Steggall, seven, Elise Dixon, seven, and seven-year-old Fraser Aubrey.

And from Timbercroft Primary School Amber Madden-Nadeau, eight, Alice Hurst, nine, Amy Brady, eight, Jade Todd, nine, Charlie Martina, nine, Paul Newton, eight, Tokumboh Arfolaju, nine, Richard Edwardes, nine, and nine-year-old Katy Kyle.

January 28, 2003 10:30